Oscar Taveras’ recovery from last year’s ankle surgery has gone much more slowly than expected and has recently led to hamstring problems as well, and today the Cardinals optioned the 22-year-old stud outfield prospect to minor-league camp.

That means Taveras will begin the season at Triple-A–and possibly on the Triple-A disabled list–after initially having at least some chance to claim an Opening Day job. He simply couldn’t get healthy enough to force his way into manager Mike Matheny’s plans after playing just 46 games at Triple-A last season due to the ankle injury.

Taveras heading back to the minors means the Cardinals will go with Peter Bourjos and Jon Jay as a center field job-share, Matt Holliday and Allen Craig in the outfield corners, and Matt Adams at first base. And they’ll hope to see Taveras again in a couple months when he’s healthy and crushing Triple-A pitching.

Harvey, 29, spent 2018 with the Mets and Reds, posting an aggregate 4.94 ERA with a 131/37 K/BB ratio in 155 innings. He started off poorly with the Mets, so they traded him to the Reds in early May. He pitched much better in Cincinnati.

Harvey should have a spot secured at the back of the Angels’ rotation, but health and performance can always change that leading up to Opening Day.